Canon marks 10th anniversary of Océ Arizona flatbed series with FESPA 2017 launch of new options for automated finishing and corrugated media handling

Hamburg, 8th May 2017 – Canon is celebrating a decade of innovation in the digital wide-format printing sector, with the tenth anniversary of the launch of the Océ Arizona series of digital flatbed printers.

Over the course of ten years, Océ Arizona technology has attracted widespread independent industry endorsement, winning some 50 prestigious awards from research organisations, trade associations, industry publishers and events.

At FESPA 2017 (Messe Hamburg, 8-12 May 2017), Canon will build on Océ Arizona’s market-leading position in flatbed inkjet with the introduction of new automation options to enhance productivity in print-and-cut workflows and for customers expanding their use of rigid materials for displays and packaging applications.

FESPA marks the commercial launch of Océ Auto Pilot, a solution that automates cutting, creasing and kiss cutting of printed output from any printer including Océ Arizona series and Océ Colorado 1640 on an Océ ProCut cutting table, delivering measurable productivity gains and minimising the need for operator intervention to finish printed jobs. Océ Auto Pilot picks up registration marks on the printed output using Canon EOS imaging technology. The ceiling-mounted device then instructs the Océ ProCut software to instigate the required finishing process to the exact specification of each individual job on the cutting table. Océ Auto Pilot has been developed by Canon in collaboration with Zünd Skandinavien. At FESPA 2017, Océ Auto Pilot will be demonstrated in live production of finished applications using printed output from the Arizona 6170 XTS and Arizona 1280 GT on the stand.

Mark Lawn, Director, Graphic & Communications Group Canon Europe, comments: “We’re immensely proud of the role Océ Arizona has played in the evolution of thousands of businesses since its launch in 2007, and to see its impact so widely acknowledged by the market.

“The Océ Arizona series has been pivotal to the digital revolution in wide-format, enabling print service providers of all sizes to embrace the potential of flatbed technology for graphics, decorative and functional applications. Océ Arizona has helped signmakers and graphics producers to migrate successfully from analogue processes and unlock the potential of digital technology, in particular for creative, high-value customised applications on rigid materials.”

Live at FESPA 2017, the Arizona 6170 XTS and Arizona 1280 GT will be used to produce a wide range of POS material as part of a hypothetical beauty brand campaign. Campaign elements produced on the two Océ Arizona printers include backlits, window and wall decorations, floor graphics, signage, banners, posters and lenticular prints. [See separate press release: Canon demonstrates integrated beauty brand campaign at FESPA 2017 to inspire diversification possibilities]. Canon Europe will also showcase a selection of creative, high-value applications produced by Océ Arizona customers.

At FESPA 2017, Canon is also introducing a new High Flow Vacuum option for the Océ Arizona 6100 Series. The new vacuum option is designed to improve handling of challenging rigid media such as corrugated board, plywood, MDF and fibreboard. These materials, while increasingly popular for structural displays and short-run packaging applications, are notoriously hard to control on the printer bed, impacting negatively on productivity and requiring labour-intensive workarounds.

Compared with a standard vacuum system, the new High Flow Vacuum option generates more than fifteen times the continuous air flow to the media surface, making it easy to print without the need for adhesive tape or gripper mechanisms to control the substrate. An extra-large vacuum surface of 2.5m x 3.2m allows for 2-up printing of 1.6m x 2.5m boards or 4-up printing of 1.6m x 1.25m boards, while the standard pneumatic registration pins ensure easy, repeatable rigid media loading.

Mark Lawn continues: “Over the past ten years, we have sustained our investment in continuous innovation, regularly delivering new Océ Arizona models, guided by customer feedback. This has given customers a clear development pathway for their businesses, allowing them to increase format, boost productivity, manage growing production volumes and capture valuable new application opportunities. With every new generation of Arizona, customers have been given new tools to grow and evolve.”

Since the launch of Océ Arizona, increasing numbers of customers have used the products to diversify into functional and industrial applications. Among the innovative applications being created by Océ Arizona users are kitchen backsplashes, furniture, floor laminates, membrane switch overlays, packaging and display stands. In Europe today, 25% of installed Océ Arizona printers are used for applications outside sign and display.

Mark Lawn adds: “Consistent with Canon’s ongoing focus on helping PSPs to streamline production processes and eliminate bottlenecks, the latest technology options being introduced at FESPA 2017 will further boost productivity and give PSPs the confidence to diversify into more creative application areas by enhancing quality and improving reliability.”

Technipub’s latest flatbed investment reinforces a committed strategy to build on the company’s 25-year screen printing heritage with digital printing and finishing capabilities. The decision to blend screen and digital production has enabled Technipub to develop new signage, décor and photographic applications, while reducing job turnaround times and enabling prototyping.

Technipub owners Amélie and Elodie Texier acknowledge the role that Océ Arizona technology has played in the evolution of the business: “In today’s market, you need to produce as fast as you can, and meet customers’ quality expectations. Océ Arizona technology has opened up applications that simply weren’t viable ten years ago, giving us new avenues to grow the business and do more for customers. It’s important to keep moving forward, and we see the Océ Arizona printers as members of the Technipub ‘team’, helping us to challenge ourselves and pursue new opportunities that really motivate us.”